Three dimensional virtual and augmented reality display system

Abstract

A system may comprise a selectively transparent projection device for projecting an image toward an eye of a viewer from a projection device position in space relative to the eye of the viewer, the projection device being capable of assuming a substantially transparent state when no image is projected; an occlusion mask device coupled to the projection device and configured to selectively block light traveling toward the eye from one or more positions opposite of the projection device from the eye of the viewer in an occluding pattern correlated with the image projected by the projection device; and a zone plate diffraction patterning device interposed between the eye of the viewer and the projection device and configured to cause light from the projection device to pass through a diffraction pattern having a selectable geometry as it travels to the eye.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method of presenting a three-dimensional image to a viewer with a three-dimensional image visualization system, the method comprising:
 projecting an image from a selectively transparent projection device through a selectively transparent zone plate diffraction patterning device having a selectable geometry to apply an accommodation treatment to the image, wherein the selectively transparent zone plate diffraction patterning device is interposed between an eye of the viewer and the selectively transparent projection device; 
 operating a selectively transparent occlusion mask device to selectively block background light from entering the eye of the viewer, wherein the background light travels on an axis that runs through the selectively transparent occlusion mask device and the selectively transparent projection device toward the eye from one or more positions opposite of the selectively transparent projection device from the eye of the viewer; and 
 delivering a modified image to the eye of the viewer. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operating the selectively transparent occlusion mask device to selectively block background light comprises creating an occluded region on at least one portion of the selectively transparent occlusion mask device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising correlating the occluded region with the image projected from the selectively transparent projection device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the correlating comprises selectively controlling the occluded region to geometrically align with the image projected from the selectively transparent projection device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a selectable diffraction geometry on at least a portion of the selectively transparent zone plate diffraction patterning device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the applying the accommodation treatment further comprises passing the image projected from the selectively transparent projection device through the selectable diffraction geometry. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising correlating the image projected from the selectively transparent projection device with the displayed selectable diffraction geometry. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the correlating comprises controlling the selectable diffraction geometry on at least a portion of the selectively transparent zone plate diffraction patterning device to geometrically align with the image projected from the selectively transparent projection device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 5 , wherein applying an accommodation treatment to the image further comprises modifying a focal distance of the image projected from the selectively transparent projection device using the selectable diffraction geometry. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein projecting the image from a selectively transparent projection device further comprises redirecting light toward the eye of the viewer. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein redirecting light toward the eye of the viewer further comprises:
 accepting light into a waveguide at a first angle; and 
 outputting light at a second angle. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying an accommodation treatment comprises displaying a series of selectable diffraction geometries on at least a portion of a selectively transparent zone plate diffraction patterning device at a selected frequency. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the selected frequency is 720 Hz. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selectively blocking background light from entering an eye of the viewer further comprises displaying a blacked out image on the selectively transparent occlusion mask device, the blacked out image geometrically correlating to the image projected from the selectively transparent projection device. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising emitting an initial image from an imaging module. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising transmitting the initial image from the imaging module to the selectively transparent projection device. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving the initial image from the imaging module into the selectively transparent projection device. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein transmitting the initial image from the imaging module to the selectively transparent projection device includes magnifying and diffracting the initial image. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein transmitting the initial image further comprises directing the initial image toward the selectively transparent projection device on an initial image trajectory substantially perpendicular to a modified image trajectory of the modified image traveling to the eye of the viewer. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering the modified image to the eye of the viewer comprises delivering an image having eye accommodation cues to the eye of the viewer.